Glass washing and sterilizing machine



Aug. 17, 1937. F. E. MITCHELL GLASS WASHING AND STERILIZING MACHINE Filed Aug. 22, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 1937. F. E. MITCHELL GLASS WASHING AND STERILIZING MACHINE Filed Aug. 22, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 17, 1937 PATENT OFFIQE GLASS WASHING AND STERILIZING MACHINE "Frank E. Mitchell,

Vancouver, British Columbia,

Canada Application August 22, 1935, Serial No. 37,401

2 Claims.

This invention relates to power-driven glass washing and sterilizing machines designed especially for the speedy washing, cleansing and sterilizing of glasses used'in places of public resort.

One of the particular objects of my invention is to provide a machine as nearly automatic in operation as possible other than the actual positioning of the glasses or tumblers upon the re volving brushes, and with this particular object in View, I have designed a machine wherein, when a tumbler is positioned upon the brushes, the machine is started, the water flow is opened and a measured amount of sterilizing liquid admitted into the water stream which is discharged for the actual washing of each glass, and when the glass is removed from the brushes the machine is stopped.

By suitable alteration of the brush members an of the machine, it may be adapted to wash and cleanse any type or shape of glass in ordinary The machine is simple in operation and silent in use and requires a minimum of manual at- 05 tention to keep in proper order, and other than charging the machine with sterilizing fluid, very little attention is required to maintainthe machine in effective Working order.

With the foregoing enumerated features and objects in view I have invented the glass washing and sterilizing machine which is the subject matter of this application and which is further described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming part of this application, in which:

Figure l is a side elevation of the machine illustrating the general assembly of the parts, driving motor, washing tank, piping connections and control switch.

Figure 2 is a general cross section of Figure 1 illustrating the main constructional details of the machine.

Figure 3 is an enlarged detail view of gauge showing valve stem with flat head.

Figure 4 is an enlarged detail View of valve in injection chamber. I a

Figure 5 is a cross section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4 showing triangular push rod.

In these drawings like numerals indicate like 5 parts, and the numeral I indicates a vertical electric motor mounted upon a suitable base 2 to position the motor at the desired height.

The motor I has a pulley wheel 3 driving 55 through the belt 4' the pulley 5 which is integral with a ball bearing mounted sleeve 6 forming an extension of the pulley 5.

Above the pulley 5 and likewise integral with it is a hollow shank 1, upon which is mounted a hollow cross arm 8 carrying vertical brush spindles 9 at the outer ends thereof. Mounted in the center of the cross arm 8 is a vertical brush spindle Ill.

The brush spindles 9 and ID are hollow and are perforated with a large number of small apertures H to permit of the escape of water therethrough.

The passages on the inside of the spindles 9 and I!) register with the passage formed in the hollow cross arm 8, which in turn communicates with the hollow shank 1.

The pulley 5 and bearing sleeve 6 are mounted upon a hollow bearing spindle l2 secured adjacent one end and upon the top cover plate l3 of a rectangular liquid mixing chamber M.

The passage on the inside of the bearing spindle l2 communicates with the inside of the mixing chamber M and with the passage formed in the hollow shank l, which in turn is connected with the passage formed in the hollow cross arm 3 to which the hollow brush spindles 9 and ID are connected. Hence there is a direct passage from the liquid mixing chamber 14 to the brush spindles 9 and Ill.

The cross arm 8 and brush spindles 9 and ID are mounted in a metal bowl l5 comprising a washing chamber which has an outlet 16 for drainage. The bowl [5 is suitably mounted in a drain board ll flush with the top thereof.

The rectangular mixing chamber M is mounted upon the top of a cylindrical chamber I8 forming the main sub-structure of the machine. Inside the chamber 88 is fitted a rubber bladder IS, the neck of which is fitted upon a spigot 20 positioned in the centre of one of the end covers 2| of the chamber l8.

The spigot 25 is connected to a fitting 22 upon the outside of the end cover 2!, which in turn is connected by the pipe 23 to an injection chamber 24 mounted upon the cover plate l3 of the mixing chamber I4 positioned above the cylindrical chamber l8.

The injection chamber 24 is provided with three pipe connections, one for the pipe 23 connecting with the spigot 20, one for the pipe 25 connecting with a pressure water supply 26,

and one for the pipe 2'! connecting with the end cover 28 of the cylindrical chamber I8.

The last mentioned pipe 21 communicates through the end cover 28 directly with the inside of the cylindrical chamber l8.

Fitted inside the injection chamber 24 is a valve 29 which seats upon a valve seat 30 formed in the bottom of the injection chamber 24.

The injection chamber 24 has a boss 3! formed at its lower end, which fits into an aperture formed in the top cover plate l3 of the mixing chamber l4.

The valve 29 has a vertical stem 32 which is slidable in a dependent guide 33 formed uponthe inside of the cover or top 34 of the injection chamber 24. j j

The upper end of the stem 32 within the guide 33 is coned to fit snugly into the upper end of the guide 33.

Apertures or ports 35 are drilled into the bottom of the cover 34 terminating at the inside end of the guide 33, the purpose of which is to permit the water pressure upon the inside of the injection chamber :24 being exerted against the upper end of the valve stem 32 to seat the valve 29 firmly upon its seat 39.

The valve seat 38 and boss 3| are drilled to form a guide for a slidable push rod 35, the top of which contacts the underside of the valve 23 to unseat it when the push rod is raised in the guide formed in the boss 3!. 1

The lower end of the push rod 36 rests upon one end 37 of a pivoted lever 38 mounted upon the underside oi the cover plate l3 of the mixing chamber Id.

The lever 38 is pivoted at 39 in a pair of lugs t3 formed upon the underside of the cover plate 3. 5

The opposite end 4! of the lever 38 is positioned directly under the lower end of a push rod 42 mounted within the vertical brush spindle l and extending through the latter into the hollow cross arm 8 and shank l, and then through the hollow bearing spindle l2 into the mixing chamber M.

The upper end of the push rod 42 projects above the top of the centre vertical brush spindle l0 and is fitted with a suitable contact member 43 for the inside bottom of glasses to contact with and depress to cause the machine to operate.

The lower end of the push rod 42 has a bulbous end 44 to allow it contacting the end 4| of the lever 38 throughout its limited arc of movement.

Positioned below the lever 38 and also upon the inside of the mixing chamber 4 is another lever 45 pivoted upon a stem at extending through one side of the mixing chamber [4.

The outer end of the stem 46 is connected to a suitable operating switch 4? installed upon the outside of the mixing chamber S4 for controlling the operation of the electric motor I.

Upon the end cover 2i of he cylindrical chamber I8 is fitted a filling plug 43 through which the filling of the chamber it] with a chemical solution is effected.

Upon the opposite end cover 23 is fitted a glass gauge 49 for indicating whether the chamber I8 contains sufiicient solution for the operation of the machine.

This gauge 49 is provided with a valve stem 50 slidable upon the inside of the gauge glass which has a flat head positioned upon the inside of the end cover 26, the purpose of which will be disclosed in the recital of the operation of the machine to follow.

The end cover 28 is also provided with a drainage opening at the bottom thereof to which is fitted a draw-off valve 52.

A shut-01f valve 53 is installed at any convenient position in the pressure water supply line 26 and is left in the open position when the machine is in operation.

A check valve 54 is installed in the pipe line 23, preferably adjacent the injection chamber 24, in such a manner that no flow can be set up in the pipe 23, except in a direction away from the injection chamber 24.

A needle control valve 55 is installed in the pipe 27 intermediate the end cover 28, and the injection chamber 24 for regulating the flow of chemical solution.- The pipe 21 in practice is of much smaller diameter than that of the pipe 23.

It is to be particularly noted that the valve 29 in the injection chamber 24 is in the nature of a check valve, and that the push rod. 36 is of triangular section and permits of a flow of liquid from the injection chamber 24 into the mixing chamber I 4 every time the valve 29 is unseated or opened.

In operation the machine functions as follows:

Assuming the machine to be suitably connected to a pressure water supply 26 and a source of electric energy for the operation of the electric motor I, and that the cylindrical chamber l8 has been filled with a chemical, sterilizing solution and that the valve 53 in the water pressure line 26 has been opened, water will flow therefrom up through the pipe 25 into the injection chamber 24, thence into the pipe 23 and through the check valve 54 down to the spigot 20 through which the water passes into the rubber bladder l9 positioned within the cylindrical chamber I8.

As the bladder l9 can only be partially filled and distended by reason of the cylindrical chamber l8 being filled with a chemical solution, which prevents the distension and expansion of the bladder I9 to its fullest extent, the water pressure is soon equalized in the bladder l9 and pipe line 23 and injection chamber 24.

During the equalizing of the Water pressure within the bladder l9, the distension of the same,

has set up an equalizing pressure upon the chem ical solution within the cylindrical chamber I8 and this pressure has caused the solution to flow out therefrom through theneedle valve 55 and pipe 27 into the injection chamber 24 until a state of equilibrium of pressure has been established, both inside and outside the bladder I9 within the chamber l8, and in the pipe lines 23, 25 and 21 and also in the injection chamber 24.

As pressure is set up within the injection chamber 24, the valve 29 is caused to seat by reason of the pressure set up upon the head of the valve stem 32 within the guide 33, valve 29 upon its seat 30.

As the valve 29 is forced upon its seat 36, it depresses the triangularly shaped push rod 36 upon the end 3! of the pivoted lever 38 and holds the latter down, which action raises the opposite end 4! of the lever 38 up against the bulbous end 44 of the push rod 42, and also raises the end 4| from out of contact with the switch lever 45 positioned belowthe lever 38, which operates the electric switch 41.

All the above actions have been automatic by reason of the water pressure acting upon the various parts of the machine.

Now, assuming the operator of the machine has a number of glasses to wash, one of the glasses is positioned upon the vertical brushes 9 and I0 and the "glass is pressed downwards upon the upper end of the push rod 42 projecting above which forces the the centre brush it with suificient force to depress the rod 12 downwards.

This action depresses the end 41 of the lever 5-38 until it contacts with the switch-lever 45 and closes the switch ll and starts the motor 5 and the brushes 5 and it revolving.

The movement of the lever 38 downward has unseated the valve in the injection chamber 2% and permitted a flow of mixture therefrom into the chamber id, which is assumed to be full of a diluted antiseptic solution.

With the opening of the valve 29 a pressure is set up within the mixing chamber M which forces a flow therefrom up through the hollow bearing spindle iii to the revolving brushes 9 and it and upon the inside and outside of the glass positioned thereon which being washed.

The waste water discharged from the brushes into the bowl i5 is discharged through the outlet It.

With the opening of the valve 29, the water pressure in the injection chamber 2 5 is momentarily reduced to the pressure in the mixing chamber M, which is only that due to a very small hydraulic head of the water in the brush spindles 9 and M). This slightly reduces the pressure in the cylindrical chamber it, allowing the chamber to contract and force the chemical solution therefrom through needle valve into the 30 injection chamber 2d. The back check valve 54 prevents the pressure in the chamber l8 from falling too rapidly when valve 2% is open and the pressure in 2 3 is consequently lowered.

If the push rod 52 is held down for a con- 851 siderable period, it will bring down the pressure in the cylindrical chamber is to that in the in jection chamber and no solution will pass out therefrom through the needle valve 55 into the chamber 24, as water from the inside of the bladder 99 is prevented from backing up into the chamber 24- by reason of the check valve 5 3 in the line 23.

After the glass is washed and removed from the push rod 4'2, the valve 29 is automatically closed and water pressure restored in the injection chamber 2 and bladder it.

The restoration of the full water pressure inside the bladder it exerts an equal pressure upon the antiseptic solution within the cylindrical chamber 38 and causes it to slightly expand and set up a pressure upon the solution contained therein to a suificient degree that, when the pressure is momentarily lowered therewithin by opening the valve 29, the volume of the space surrounding the bladder it is reduced to a sufficient degree to force the antiseptic solution from chamber is into the injection chamber 2 1.

It is to be noted that, as the quantity of antiseptic solution is reduced within the cylindrical chamber it, the quantity of water contained within the bladder lil is proportionately increased, and this action is continued by the frequent washing of glasses until the chamber H3 is almost completely emptied of solution; but before this is finally effected, a warning is given in the gauge glass @9 by movement of the stem 50 therewithin, which has been caused by the expansion of the bladder it contacting the flat head 5i of the valve stem which is positioned within the chamber Ill and forcing the stem 58 into the gauge glass 19 to indicate that the chamber i8 is nearly empty of solution.

A summary is as follows:

As noted above, the machine consists essentially of three chambers, a mixing chamber, an injection chamber and a solution chamber, that in effect comprises a pumping cylinder.

The machine depends for its action on the principle of expansion and contraction of materials under varying stresses.

The solution chamber is divided into two compartments by a rubber bladder. Outside of the bladder is a chemical solution for sterilizing the glasses.

Inside the bladder is water at a pressure exceeding fifty pounds per square inch when the machine is at rest.

The solution chamber is connected to the injection chamber by a pipe of small diameter.

The water pressure is connected to the injection chamber and exerts an equal pressure on the solution cylinder, bringing these into equilibrium and expanding the solution cylinder.

The injection chamber is connected to the inside of the bladder with a much larger pipe than the pipe connecting the injection chamber with the solution chamber and has a check valve therein which prevents pressure from the bladder being set up in the injection chamber.

The machine performs part of its functions, when not in operation, as the water pressure causes the solution chamber to expand and brings all fluids in the solution chamber, bladder and injection chamber to the same pressure.

When the machine is operated, the valve in the injection chamber is opened and allows the water and solution to enter the mixing chamber to pass up through the brushes and thence to the drain.

When the valve in the injection chamber is opened, it reduces the pressure therein to the pressure in the mixing chamber, which is very low by reason of its not being subjected to pressure when the machine is at rest.

Having now described my invention and the nature of the same, what I claim and desire to be protected in by Letters Patent, is:

1. In a machine, a mixing chamber having a discharge outlet, an injection chamber having a valved passage to said mixing chamber, a valve controlling said passage, means for unseating said valve, an expansible and contractible solution chamber, a duct between said solution chamber and said injection chamber, a valve with a restricted passage located in said duct, a duct from said injection chamber to said solution chamber and containing a back-check valve, and a water-supply pipe connected to deliver into said injection chamber at a predetermined pressure.

2. In a machine, a mixing chamber having a discharge outlet, an injection chamber having a valved passage to said mixing chamber, a valve controlling said passage, means for unseating said valve, an expansible and contractible solution chamber, a. duct between said solution chamber and said injection chamber, a valve with a restricted passage located in said duct, a duct from said injection chamber to said solution chamber and containing a back-check valve, a water-supply pipe connected to deliver into said injection chamber at a predetermined pressure, and a bladder in said solution chamber into which bladder said last named duct delivers its contents;

FRANK E. MITCHELL. 

